Contemporary Challenges in Healthcare Policy - HEA00183M

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Module summary

This module aims to provide a state of the art overview of contemporary, global healthcare policy challenges

Professional requirements

N/A

Related modules

N/A

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Online Teaching Period 2 2025-26

Module aims

This module aims to provide a state of the art overview of contemporary, global healthcare policy challenges, including analysing policy development processes, evaluating stakeholder engagement, exploring public health principles, examining digital health and analytics, addressing workforce development issues, enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and developing effective communication and collaboration abilities in the context of healthcare policy.

Module learning outcomes

1. Critically analyse the major contemporary challenges facing healthcare policy makers at the national and global levels.

2. Appraise specific healthcare policy challenges, considering diverse stakeholder interests, resource constraints, and ethical implications.

3. Critically examine the interplay between healthcare policies and broader societal issues, such as health equity, access to care, and public health concerns.

4. Communicate healthcare policy analysis and recommendations effectively to diverse audiences, including policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the general public.

Module content

Unit 1: Contemporary Challenges in Healthcare 1

Students will learn about the major contemporary challenges identified by the World Health Organization, such as demographic shifts, climate change impacts, and persistent health

inequalities. They will analyse how these challenges influence healthcare systems and policies, and explore strategies to address them effectively.

Unit 2: Contemporary Challenges in Healthcare 2

Students will explore workforce challenges in healthcare, assessing strategies for recruitment, retention, and development. They will evaluate the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies,

preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks, and healthcare provision during conflicts and crises. Approaches to addressing these multifaceted contemporary challenges will be critically examined.

Unit 3: Health Policy Development

Students will delve into theoretical frameworks for health policy development, examining their applications in addressing health inequalities and stakeholder analysis and

engagement in health policy. They will assess behavioural approaches and evaluate methods for policy impact assessment. Strategies to reduce disparities and enhance equity through evidence-based policymaking will be explored. This module further examines healthcare patents and power dynamics within global healthcare that restrict healthcare equity and access to medicine.

Unit 4: Traditional and Indigenous Healing Systems in Modern Healthcare and Health Issues

Students will learn to identify and analyse traditional and indigenous healing systems marginalised by modern Western health care. The colonial projects from 1492 impacted traditional health systems.

This module looks at Ayurvedic medicine system, Mayan healing techniques and African herbal medicine relevant to modern healthcare issues.

Unit 5: Fundamentals of Public Health

Students will explore the principles of preventative healthcare and universal healthcare systems. They will study epidemiological methods for disease surveillance and control, and examine the impact of environmental factors on public health. Strategies for promoting population health through evidence-based public health practices will be emphasized.

Unit 6: Digital Health, and Healthcare Analytics: Opportunities and Challenges

Students will learn the taxonomy and applications of digital health technologies in healthcare settings. They will evaluate the policy context, evidence base, and challenges associated with adopting digital health solutions. Additionally, they will explore the role of healthcare analytics in informing decisions and improving outcomes, while considering opportunities and risks.

Unit 7: Health and Care Workforce Development

Students will conceptualize the diverse components of the health and care workforce. They will examine strategies for effective recruitment, retention, education, and professional development of healthcare personnel. In addition, this module examines the care workforce within a humanitarian and underdevelopment context examining the challenges of healthcare systems with a crisis. The role of regulatory bodies in ensuring workforce protection, quality, accountability, and ethical standards will also be critically analysed.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Assignment - York Online Programmes	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

None

Module feedback

In accordance with University of York and School for Business and Society Policy. Feedback will be provided via the Canvas online VLE either written or recorded.

Indicative reading

1. "The World Health Report 2022: Shaping the Future" by the World Health Organization - This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary global health issues and policy challenges.

2. "Health Systems Policy, Finance, and Organization" edited by Guy Carrin et al. - This book examines various aspects of health systems, including financing, governance, and service delivery, with a focus on achieving universal health coverage.

3. "Global Health Policy: Local Realities" by Sophie Harman - This text explores the complexities of global health policy implementation at the local level, highlighting the challenges faced by policymakers and stakeholders.

4. Kimmerer, R.W. (2020). Braiding Sweetgrass. London: Penguin Book - This text explores the link between a capitalist system and the impact on health and indigenous healing practices.

5. Patel, V. and Kleinman, A. (2003). Poverty and common mental disorders in developing countries. Bulletin of the World Health Organization,

6. Kleinman, A. and Benson, P. (2006). Anthropology in the clinic: the problem of cultural competency and how to fix it.

7. Kleinman, A. (1995). Writing at the margins: discourse between anthropology and medicine.

8. Kleinman, A. (2006). What really matters: living a moral life amidst uncertainty and danger.

9. Kleinman, A. (2017). Presence. The Lancet, 389(10088), 2466–2467.

10. Kleinman, A. (2020). The soul of care.

11. Sivan, B. (2013). Inertia and Ayurvedic viewpoint. Gulf News.

12. Huffpost (2017). What the Ancient Maya can teach us about living well, ."Health Equity, Disproportionate Discipline Disparities, Healthcare Laws and Ethics" by John J. Banja - This book addresses health inequities, ethical considerations, and legal frameworks surrounding healthcare policies.

13. "Digital Health: Exploring Use and Impact" edited by Indra Neil Sarkar et al. - This collection of research articles examines the applications, evidence base, and policy implications of digital health technologies.

14. "Health Workforce Governance: Improved Access, Good Regulatory Practice, Safer Patients" by Gilles Dussault and Carl-Ardy Dubois - This book focuses on strategies for effective governance and regulation of the healthcare workforce.

15. "Public Health Policy: Issues, Theories, and Advocacy" by Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharya - This text provides an overview of public health policy development, theoretical frameworks, and advocacy strategies.

16. "Healthcare Analytics for Quality and Performance Improvement" by Trevor L. Strome - This book explores the use of data analytics in healthcare settings, including applications in quality improvement, performance measurement, and policy evaluation.